Even with his primary backup missing the last six quarters, the first two games of the Spurs-Jazz first-round playoff series have not required much of an increase in the workload for 36-year-old Spurs captain Tim Duncan.

After playing a career-low 28.3 minutes per game in 58 regular-season games, Duncan has played only 58 minutes and three seconds of two convincing wins. He produced double-doubles in both games, getting 17 points and 11 rebounds in a 106-91 Game 1 victory in which he played just over 31 minutes; 12 points and 13 rebounds in just under 27 minutes in a 116-85 blowout in Game 2.

Tiago Splitter was expected to assume a significant role behind Duncan against Utah's big, physical front line, but a bone bruise in his left wrist limited him to seven-plus minutes in the first half of Game 1.

Power forward Matt Bonner sat out the second half of Wednesday's Game 2 after suffering a deep thigh contusion in the second quarter.

Both Splitter and Bonner are expected to be ready for Saturday's Game 3 in Utah.

“Getting (Splitter) a few extra days (without playing) is really important,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “I'd say he is probable for the weekend.

“(Bonner) is a little sore, a little banged up, but he'll be ready to go.”

Despite the expectation that all five of his big men will be available, Popovich stressed that he won't hesitate to give Duncan big minutes if the circumstances demand it.

“Each game is a different animal and if (Duncan) plays 20 mintues or he has to play 44 minutes, that's what we would do, based on what's going on in the game,” Popovich said. “It's playoff time, and you play as much as needed, and he's ready to do that.”

Batteries not included: Utah's home arena, the former Delta Center that now is known as EnergySolutions Arena, has been one of the loudest, least hospitable venues in the NBA since the Jazz moved there from the Salt Palace in 1991, and the Spurs anticipate a raucous crowd.

“It's one of the loudest (arenas),” Spurs guard Danny Green said, “a very tough place to play. Their arena and their fans help them out a lot. We're going to try out best to keep their crowd out of it, but once they get going, it's tough to beat them there.”

Point guard Tony Parker, whose 46 points in the first two games is tops for both teams, likened the arena to a European venue.

“Especially back in the day when they had John Stockton and Karl Malone, it was just like (Europe),” he said. “When the fans were screaming at you and curse at you and blah, blah, blah. It was just like Europe except they don't throw stuff, throw coins and a lot of stuff at you.”

Manu Ginobili, who played four seasons in the Italian League before joining the Spurs in 2002, scoffed at the suggestion Utah's crowd is like European crowds.

“Believe me, it's not like Europe,” he said. “I've been scared. They've thrown rocks at me, batteries, coins. Luckily, it's not like that here. It gets loud, of course. It gets fun. But you never feel threatened. I did feel threatened over there (in Europe).”

Light day: The Spurs had a light, non-taped practice Thursday and will use today as a travel day. The Jazz, who returned to Salt Lake City after Wednesday's game, took Thursday off, with a practice scheduled for today.